ST PETER S CATHOLIC PARISH PRIMARY SCHOOL

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1 ST PETER S CATHOLIC PARISH PRIMARY SCHOOL Friday 4th May 2018 Week 3 To the St Peter s community, In this Sunday s second reading we will hear, Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In the gospel, Jesus says, This is my commandment. Love one another as I have loved you. Love is the essential concept of these readings. The mutual love between the Father and the Son is the foundation of Jesus love for his disciples, and the love that he commands the disciples to have for one another. It is this love that will be the source of the disciples joy and the basis of their intimate friendship with the Lord. Our life in Christ revealed in our love for him and for others, shows that we are friends of Christ today, living in imitation of him in the world. What is love? It is very real though invisible... The love Jesus refers to is Agape ; a commitment to consistently put another person s wellbeing and happiness before your own. It s the love one has for another when the other s needs are considered before one s own. It s the love that overlooks another s faults, and focuses on strengths and qualities instead. It s the love parents have for their children despite the poor choices they sometimes make. It s selfless giving of one s time and energy when there are neither to spare. It s the willingness to lay down one s life for another to protect that person from pain. It s given freely and unconditionally. This love not a sentimental, ordinary, worldly love, nor is it simply a warm feeling or mood. This love is a mature state of mind, an attitude that always seeks the best. This is an active, sacrificial, abiding love that is far richer than anything worldly or ordinary. Unconditional love is hard. It is demanding. It requires virtue and brings out the best in all involved in the love relationship. We pray: Lord Jesus, you promised to be with your people always, and so we know that you are with us in good times and bad. Nothing that ever happens to us can separate us from your love. Help us always to be positive in our attitude that we may seek and find the best in people and in situations, and so draw good out of all that happens to us. Amen. This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you. The whole of the Gospel, the whole of the teaching of Jesus is there. If that was all we ever took from the Gospel, it would be enough. Have a wonderful weekend, Kerry Miller Principal ADMINISTRATION Deborah Racina - Director of First Impressions office@stprepp.catholic.edu.au DATES TO REMEMBER Sacrament Presentation Masses- Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 May (final weekend) Mother s Day Stall - Tuesday 8th May Mother s Day celebration with students Thurs 10th May Whole school Assembly - Friday 11th May 2.45pm Sacrament of Reconciliation- &7pm, 3/5@5.45 &7pm, 7pm, 30/5@5.45 &7pm Sacrament of Confirmation-24/5 & 6.30pm Sacrament of First Eucharist- & 5.30pm St Peter s Trivia Night - Friday 1st June Important update about Parish Out of School Hours Care Program For some time now the Parish and the Management Committee of the Out of School Hours Care Program have been carefully considering the ongoing viability of this service; the decision has now been made to close the existing service. In informing St Peter s School of this decision, the school has identified that this service is an essential one for the families of St Peter s and has explored several options for continuing to support families with care requirements after school hours. The school is excited to now partner with EXTEND Before & After School Care to provide a seamless transition for families and an ongoing service for our students. EXTEND currently offer this service at our second Parish school, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and in many other schools in this area. They offer an excellent high quality program at very reasonable rates and families will be well supported in transition. EXTEND will be providing detailed information to all families in the coming weeks and will soon be a very visible presence in our school.

2 EDUCATION IN FAITH Presentation Masses for Sacraments This weekend (5/6 May)is the third opportunity for your child to be presented to the Parish at the weekend Masses. All children participating in the Sacraments of Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation are asked to go to Fr Anh or Fr Joel before Mass commences and let them know that you are there for Presentation. Hello, my name is, I am making the Sacrament of and I am here to present myself to the community. When the Priest calls you out to be presented, you will introduce yourself. Hello everyone, my name is, I am making the Sacrament of. I am feeling. Please pray for me. Parish Mass times- Where: Time: SMCM: Saturday St Peter's Church: Saturday St Peter's Church: Sunday 5:30pm 7.15pm 9:00am 10:30am Sacraments at St Monica s College Parking A reminder that parking can be challenging around St Monica s junior campus on Dalton Rd. The carpark at St Monica s is strictly by prior arrangement, for those with disabled permits, the choir, St Peter s and St Mary of the Cross MacKillop staff and Priests. Please advise the schools if you require special arrangements for those with disabilities. Photos Official photos will be held in a St Monica s classroom close to the auditorium. Signs will direct you to the area for photos. The Official photographer will also take an individual photo after your child has received the Sacrament. No other photography/videoing is permitted during the ceremonies. First Eucharist Seating Seating has been randomly allocated in the Church for families and guests. School staff will be available to direct you and your guests to your seats from 2.15 pm. The communicant s surname will be on the end of the row. The Church is arranged into two sections - first section is for the communicants and their immediate family and the second section is for extra guests. Each family will be allocated 15 seats in total (inclusive of the First Communicant). There are 5 seats in the front section of the church for the immediate family members AND the Communicant. Each family has been allocated an extra 10 guest seats that are located in the second section of the Church. Confirmation Seating Seating has been randomly allocated in the Church space for families and guests. St Peter s staff will be available to direct you and your guests to their seating prior to the beginning of Mass from 5.45 pm, the Confirmandi s surname will be on the end of the row. In the first section of the Church space there are 6 seats for the Confirmandi Candidate, their sponsor and 4 immediate family members. An extra 10 guest seats have been allocated in the second half of the Church space. Each student has an allocation of 16 seats in total. Being Confirmed Bishop Terry Curtin will be presiding our Liturgy. School staff will be present to direct the students and sponsors up to the altar to where they will be Confirmed. Sponsors need to pass the white card to the priest (Sponsors are required to be confirmed Catholics). The Confirmandi will stand in front of Bishop Curtin. The sponsor stands behind their student who is kneeling and places their right hand on their Confirmandi s right shoulder.

3 At this time the students will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and the professional photographer will take a photo. Reconciliation How does the Sacrament of Reconciliation look at St Peter s and St Mary of the Cross MacKillop? Teachers will let you know when it is your child's time and you and your child will be ushered to a Priest, the staff will give parents a pin in recognition of receiving the Sacrament. Parents walk their child to the Priest and introduce their child to the Priest, other family members will remain seated. Parents will leave their child with the Priest to receive the Sacrament and return to their seats. Upon the newly Reconciled child returning to their seat, parents place the child s stole around their shoulders and secure the pin on the same side as the Reconciliation symbol. The family will light a candle and pray a prayer together. Please collect your Sacrament Information brochure from the level teachers if you have not already done so! LEARNING & TEACHING NAPLAN TESTING On Tuesday 15th, Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th May the children in Years 3 and 5 will participate in NAPLAN (National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy) testing. The timetable is as follows: Tuesday 15th Wednesday Thursday 9am Language Reading Numeracy Conventions am Writing Students in Years 3 and 5 need to arrive punctually (by 8.55am) for NAPLAN testing on these particular days as late arrivals will miss essential instructions and cause disruption to other students. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Parents of students in Years 3 and 5 will now have received an information pamphlet further outlining the NAPLAN testing process. Please ensure your child has a HB pencil, eraser and sharpener for NAPLAN testing. An individual student NAPLAN report will be issued by the school later this year. More information is available at What s been happening in STEAM? This Term in STEAM the students will take part in various skill-based workshops in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths. There will be the opportunity for the students to then utilise what they ve learnt on Makers Days. In week 1, we explored the purpose of our MakerSpace. Students were able to use a variety of materials to create artworks to express their ideas, observations and imagination. They generated ideas and were asked to articulate some problem solving strategies. What is a MakerSpace? A makerspace is a place with a variety of different materials. It is a place to explore and discover new ideas. This may involve designing, creating and building. Students are encouraged to try something new and persist when something doesn t work the first time. The MakerSpace allows the freedom of choice to be able to discover an area of interest and having the chance to share this in some way with others. The workshops from week 2 have focussed on the following areas: Science: Exploring the Life Cycle of a Butterfly Technology: Using coding to change characters.(scratch junior) Engineering: Building a beanstalk for Jack to climb. Designing and creating a parachute for Jack to escape the beanstalk. Arts: Visual & Performance Visual Art: Exploring the versatility of paper Designing a new toy. Drama: Participating in and presenting a reader s Theatre script to a small audience. Maths: Using and transforming shapes with acute and obtuse angles to tell a story through a Tangram. Here are a few snapshots from the last couple of weeks.

4 Prep News Faith Life The students in Prep have been getting to know who Mary was. Through stories and learning experiences the children have discovered that Mary was a Woman, Wife and Mother. They have also discovered that she had a cousin Elizabeth, the Angel told her to call her baby Jesus and that Joseph was her husband. They have also made connections between Mary and her role as a Mother, and their own mums and the things their mums do for them. Julie Percy - Director of Learning & Teaching juliep@stprepp.catholic.edu.au

5 SCHOOL COMMUNITY Junior Play Date Last weekend the Junior School students and their families took part in the Junior School Playdate. Those that attended enjoyed the opportunity to get to know others from the junior school in an informal setting. A reminder that the Middle School Social Event will take place tomorrow (Saturday 5th May) at 2pm. All middle school students and their families are welcome to attend. Mother s Day Stall The 2018 Mother s Day Stall will take place on Tuesday 8th May. Gifts will be available for students to purchase ranging from $1 - $5. Please ensure you send money with your child on the day. It may be helpful to place this in a labelled snaplock or paper bag. Important Uniform Reminders With cooler weather setting in it is a timely reminder that all student sports jackets and jumpers need to be clearly labelled with your child s name. A number of parents have expressed concern that their child s very clearly marked jumpers have gone missing for a second and third time, causing frustration and undue expense of replacing the missing items. Could all parents check their child s jumper and sports jacket routinely, and if it has another child s name on it, return it promptly to school. Lost property is located in the blue cupboard in the Galilee foyer. There are many unlabeled uniform items there awaiting collection! Many thanks for your assistance with these matters. Walk to School Day On Wednesday we held the Term 2 Walk to School Day. We had an amazing turn out with over 200 participants walking or riding to school. Upon arrival, participants enjoyed fresh fruit and received a house point for their efforts. All students in the school had the opportunity to dress in house colours to raise house spirit. Emma Canning - Director of School Community ecanning@stprepp.catholic.edu.au STUDENT WELLBEING Cyber Safety: Growing Up Online Presented By Susan Mclean - Cyber Safety Solutions An informative and entertaining session for parents and carers is delivered with Susan s famous no nonsense approach and will cover the positive benefits of technology as well as what parents need to be aware of. Recommended for: Parents.carers of children and young people. Date: Monday 14th May 2018 Time : pm Location: City of Whittlesea, Council Offices, Fountain View Room 25 Ferres Blv. South Morang For more information or to register your booking contact Councils Family Services Education Officer on or familytraining@whittlesea.vic.gov.au Familyzone Family zone is a great site that gives you an enormous amount of information around different games, sites, apps that your children may be using. It has great reflections from people who have used it, it has cyber experts, psychologists, who give stories, tips and hints. A lot of the apps and games our children are playing and using are not age appropriate and so as parents it is important that we are aware of these recommendations. Follow this link, scroll down to the bottom to the blog link for some really interesting and informative articles. Family Zone Be a Smart Digital Parent Jackie Fleischmann - Director of Student Wellbeing jfleischmann@stprepp.catholic.edu.au

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